Mizzima: Former Communication minis

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Former Communication minister under investigation
By Moe Myat (Yangon)
June 10, 2001, Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
Former Minister for Telecommunications, Post and Telegraphs Brigadier
General Win Tin is currently under investigation at an undisclosed
location in Yangon for the corruption charges, said sources close to the
authorities in Yangon. The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
abruptly sacked Brig. General Win Tin last month and former in charge of
military and civil administration of Magwe Division Brig. General Thein
Zaw had replaced him.
Although the Burma Media Association, a Burmese media organization in
exile, initially released the news last week of the detention, the
Burmese authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the report.
Sources close to the authorities confirmed this correspondent that
former minister is under investigation with corruption charges.
Moreover, his house in Yangon was raided while some people who have
links with him are also under investigation.
Brig. General Win Tin was reportedly sacked for his alleged corruption
during his office. Another immediate reason for his sacking was that he
entered into conflict with leaders of "Wa" group which has full backup
from the country's powerful military intelligence chief General Khin
Nyunt.
The sacked minister introduced the GSM (Global System of Mobile
Communication) network in the country. Although the Skylink company
(owned by Sanda Win, daughter of Burmese dictator U Ne Win) originally
had the license to install the phone network inside the country, it was
later sold to a company owned by Wa cease-fire group.
Win Tin and leaders of Wa group entered into verbal conflict over the
return of money, which the former minister was accused of misusing
during his ministerial reign. U Aik Hauk, leader of Wa group complained
to General Khin Nyunt about this and Win Tin was sacked.
The government has till now sanctioned about 400 GSM phones in the
country. Out of 400, the Wa and its associates have bought over 100
phones while another hundred phones have gone into the hands of
officials in the Communication and Post ministry. A GSM phone currently
costs about six lakh and fifty thousand kyat (about US $ 1000) in Burma.
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<center><b><font color="#000099"><font size=+2>Former Communication minister
under investigation</font></font></b></center>
<p><i><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>By Moe Myat (Yangon)</font></font></i>
<br><i><font color="#CC0000"><font size=+1>June 10, 2001, Mizzima News
Group <a href="http://www.mizzima.com&quot;>(www.mizzima.com)</a></font></font></i>
<p><font size=+1>Former Minister for Telecommunications, Post and Telegraphs
Brigadier General Win Tin is currently under investigation at an undisclosed
location in Yangon for the corruption charges, said sources close to the
authorities in Yangon. The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) abruptly
sacked Brig. General Win Tin last month and former in charge of military
and civil administration of Magwe Division Brig. General Thein Zaw had
replaced him.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Although the Burma Media Association, a Burmese media
organization in exile, initially released the news last week of the detention,
the Burmese authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the report.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Sources close to the authorities confirmed this correspondent
that former minister is under investigation with corruption charges. Moreover,
his house in Yangon was raided while some people who have links with him
are also under investigation.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Brig. General Win Tin was reportedly sacked for his alleged
corruption during his office. Another immediate reason for his sacking
was that he entered into conflict with leaders of "Wa" group which has
full backup from the country's powerful military intelligence chief General
Khin Nyunt.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The sacked minister introduced the GSM (Global System
of Mobile Communication) network in the country. Although the Skylink company
(owned by Sanda Win, daughter of Burmese dictator U Ne Win) originally
had the license to install the phone network inside the country, it was
later sold to a company owned by Wa cease-fire group.</font>
<br><font size=+1>Win Tin and leaders of Wa group entered into verbal conflict
over the return of money, which the former minister was accused of misusing
during his ministerial reign. U Aik Hauk, leader of Wa group complained
to General Khin Nyunt about this and Win Tin was sacked.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The government has till now sanctioned about 400 GSM phones
in the country. Out of 400, the Wa and its associates have bought over
100 phones while another hundred phones have gone into the hands of officials
in the Communication and Post ministry. A GSM phone currently costs about
six lakh and fifty thousand kyat (about US $ 1000) in Burma.</font>
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